How to Be Prepared for Changes to You and Your Baby during Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a very changing occurrence for both you and your child. As your child becomes more of a person, growing and changing in the womb, you yourself will be going through bodily and emotional changes as well. This gives a trimester view of what to expect and when to expect it.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• guidance, support, and understanding

1. What to Expect for You – First Trimester (0-14 weeks)
   During this time you will probably be starting to experience some nausea and morning sickness. Your breasts will start to get fuller and more tender. You may see that your nipples are getting larger.

2. What to Expect for Baby – First Trimester (0-14 weeks)
   During this first trimester, the baby will have its bones start to form and its heart start to beat. The major organs will form as well will the placenta so that vital nutrients can be passed through to baby from the mother, hair will begin to grow and 20 little teeth “buds” will start to form in the jaw. By the end of the first trimester the child will be around four inches long and weigh about one to two ounces.

3. What to Expect for You – Second Trimester (14-28 weeks)
   You should start to see your morning sickness ease by the second trimester. Your abdomen will swell and expand perhaps leaving stretch marks along the way. It is possible that your nipples will darken and you may be getting dry skin or brown marks on your face.

4. What to Expect for Baby – Second Trimester (14-28 weeks)
   Your baby will have its eyebrows form and its fingernails form during the second trimester. There will be further development of the major organs in the body. The child’s skin will wrinkle and there will be all over fine body hair. At the end of the second trimester the child will be around eleven to fourteen inches long and weight around two to two and a half pounds.

5. What to Expect for You – Third Trimester (28-40 weeks)
   You will feel very heavy at this stage, sleep will be disturbed and you may get leg cramps from the lack of circulation. You will have to go to the bathroom more as the child lies on your bladder and your organs are more compact. You should be getting ready for delivery and may even have some contractions before the birth begins.

6. What to Expect for Baby – Third Trimester (28-40 weeks)
   Your child will lose its body hair by now and the bones will harden (all except for the “soft spot” in the skull). Your fetus will now settle into the birth canal and ready for birth. By the end of the third trimester the child will be around twenty inches long and weigh approximately six to nine pounds.